Philippe Alfonso Salles Gándara, Neurólogo

I am a neurologist specializing in movement disorders and neuromodulation, with advanced training in deep brain stimulation, microelectrode recording, and the interventional management of movement disorders. I graduated from medical school at Universidad del Desarrollo, completed my Adult Neurology residency at Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and subsequently completed a fellowship in Movement Disorders at CETRAM, followed by a fellowship in Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation at Cleveland Clinic, United States. There, I further developed my expertise in DBS candidate selection, DBS programming, neuromodulation, and advanced therapies.
I currently work as a movement disorders and neuromodulation neurologist and direct an international fellowship program in movement disorders. In addition, I participate as a neurophysiologist in deep brain stimulation programs across several institutions in Santiago, Chile. My academic career includes undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, mentorship of Latin American specialists, organization of international courses and symposia, scientific publications, book chapters, and active participation in international scientific societies.
My work focuses on Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation, genetics, precision medicine, ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections, and the development of clinical, educational, and research capacity in movement disorders in Chile and Latin America.

My main research interests focus on movement disorders, neuromodulation, and advanced therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders. A central line of my work is deep brain stimulation, including candidate selection, advanced programming, microelectrode recording, clinical outcomes assessment, and the development of DBS programs in Chile and Latin America.
A second major area of interest is the integration of genetics, precision medicine, and “surgicogenomics” in Parkinson’s disease, particularly how genetic variants such as GBA1 and other monogenic forms may influence indications, response, and prognosis after device-aided therapies. I am also interested in the clinical characterization of rare and complex movement disorders, including dystonia, genetic parkinsonism, paroxysmal movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune-mediated syndromes.
In addition, my research addresses motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, clinical, digital, and imaging biomarkers, and the use of ultrasound- and electromyography-guided botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, spasticity, and other movement disorders. Across these areas, I aim to strengthen clinical research, medical education, and regional collaboration to improve access to advanced therapies and quality of care for patients with movement disorders in Chile and Latin America.

My university teaching experience has developed across undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialized clinical training programs, with a focus on neurology, movement disorders, neuromodulation, and advanced therapies. I currently serve as an Instructor Professor in the Division of Neurology at the School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes. I also participate as invited faculty in the Neuroscience Diploma Program at Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and in the Master’s programs in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain at Universidad Andrés Bello and Universidad de los Andes.
At CETRAM, I direct the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program and a pioneering international hybrid fellowship program in Latin America, aimed at training Latin American neurologists. In addition, at this center I serve as Principal Investigator and Academic Director of the 2026–2028 Movement Disorders Fellowship under the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship in Movement Disorders program, in partnership with The Edmond J. Safra Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation.
My teaching activities include clinical and academic mentorship of specialists from Chile and Latin America, clinical supervision, training in movement disorders phenomenology, deep brain stimulation programming, ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections, and clinical research. I have also organized and served as faculty in international courses, workshops, and symposia on Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, neurotoxins, and neuromodulation.